Broadcasting control apparatus, broadcasting control method, program, and recording medium

Abstract

Provided is a broadcasting control apparatus configured to generate a system time for broadcasting control, the system time being synchronized with a reference time in accordance with a predetermined time protocol, and configured to correct, when leap second adjustment information indicating that leap second adjustment is scheduled to be completed at a first time in the reference time is received, the system time by a correction amount depending on a time length D over a correction period having the time length D from a second time earlier than the first time, the time length D being set such that a correction amount per second of the system time is equal to or less than a cycle corresponding to an inverse of a video frame rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A broadcasting control apparatus comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and 
 one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
 generate a system time for broadcasting control, the system time being synchronized with a reference time in accordance with a predetermined time protocol; and 
 when leap second adjustment information indicating that leap second adjustment is scheduled to be completed at a first time in the reference time is received, correct the system time by a correction amount depending on a time length D over a correction period having the time length D from a second time earlier than the first time, 
 
 wherein the time length D is set such that a correction amount per second of the system time is equal to or less than a cycle corresponding to an inverse of a video frame rate. 
 
     
     
       2. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when a leap second is inserted in the reference time, determine a sum of a corrected elapsed time obtained by multiplying an elapsed time since the second time by a ratio (D−1)/D and the second time as the corrected system time. 
     
     
       3. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when a leap second is deleted from the reference time, determine a sum of a corrected elapsed time obtained by multiplying an elapsed time since the second time by a ratio (D+1)/D and the second time as the corrected system time. 
     
     
       4. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when a leap second is inserted in the reference time, determine the corrected system time by subtracting from the reference time a quotient obtained by dividing an elapsed time since the second time by the time length D. 
     
     
       5. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when a leap second is deleted from the reference time, determine the corrected system time by adding to the reference time a quotient obtained by dividing an elapsed time since the second time by the time length D. 
     
     
       6. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the video frame rate is 60 Hz. 
     
     
       7. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the correction period ends at the first time. 
     
     
       8. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the correction period ends at a third time earlier than the first time. 
     
     
       9. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit correction-related information associated with the correction of the system time to another apparatus that utilizes the corrected system time. 
     
     
       10. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the correction-related information includes one or more of the corrected system time, the correction amount, the second time, the time length D, and a time at which the correction period ends. 
     
     
       11. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the leap second adjustment information includes:
 information indicating that the leap second adjustment is scheduled to be completed at the first time; and 
 information indicating whether a leap second is inserted or deleted. 
 
     
     
       12. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to refer to the corrected system time, and instruct a start of broadcast of a television program according to a predefined schedule. 
     
     
       13. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  1 ,  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to insert time information based on the corrected system time into a broadcast signal stream to be transmitted. 
     
     
       14. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive a broadcast signal stream at a timing determined based on the corrected system time. 
     
     
       15. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time protocol is Network Time Protocol (NTP). 
     
     
       16. The broadcasting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time protocol is Precision Time Protocol (PTP). 
     
     
       17. A broadcasting control method comprising:
 generating a system time for broadcasting control, the system time being synchronized with a reference time in accordance with a predetermined time protocol; and 
 correcting, when leap second adjustment information indicating that leap second adjustment is scheduled to be completed at a first time in the reference time is received, the system time by a correction amount depending on a time length D over a correction period having the time length D from a second time earlier than the first time, 
 wherein the time length D is set such that a correction amount per second of the system time is equal to or less than a cycle corresponding to an inverse of a video frame rate. 
 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program therein, the computer program causing a processor of a broadcasting control apparatus to execute:
 generating a system time for broadcasting control, the system time being synchronized with a reference time in accordance with a predetermined time protocol; and 
 correcting, when leap second adjustment information indicating that leap second adjustment is scheduled to be completed at a first time in the reference time is received, the system time by a correction amount depending on a time length D over a correction period having the time length D from a second time earlier than the first time, 
 wherein the time length D is set such that a correction amount per second of the system time is equal to or less than a cycle corresponding to an inverse of a video frame rate.